Tummy Tuck or Liposuction: Which Is Best for a Flat Tummy?

January 4 2024

Do you miss the days of having a flat, toned stomach? In your younger years, keeping a trim midsection was likely much easier with some moderate exercise and dieting. However, over time your contours can fluctuate significantly, which may pique your interest in body contouring surgeries like tummy tuck or liposuction. Below, the talented surgeons at Atlanta Plastic & Reconstructive Specialists discuss the differences between these procedures to help you make a smart decision about your care.

Tummy Tuck/Liposuction in Atlanta

Liposuction

Liposuction is a surgery that uses a cannula (tube) to essentially vacuum out excess fat cells from specific areas of your body. While many people assume that liposuction is a magical weight loss surgery, in truth it is designed to help patients who are near their goal weight to re-contour areas affected by some stubborn fat. Since belly fat can be especially persistent even with diet and exercise, the abdomen is a popular location for this surgery.

Tummy Tuck

Tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a surgery that mainly addresses loose skin that develops around the abdomen, creating a “muffin top.” Unfortunately, even the strictest diet and exercise plan cannot address the loose skin that can form after the belly has shrunk after pregnancy/weight loss), which means that the only practical solution is with plastic surgery. Tummy tuck carefully removes some of the extra skin and re-drapes the remaining skin for a flatter appearance that better reflects your current contours. Your abdominal muscles can also be reconnected to create more definition.

Choosing the Right Surgery

The best surgery for you depends on the reason your midsection has more volume than you would like. If persistent fat is adding girth, then liposuction is your best option. However, if loose skin is the problem, you probably need tummy tuck to properly recontour the abdomen.

Sometimes combining these surgeries is the best choice. If both excess fat and loose skin are posing cosmetic problems to your midsection, our surgeons can easily perform these procedures in tandem to optimize the results. During a consultation, our team can help to evaluate your midsection to recommend a treatment plan that aligns with your cosmetic goals.

Get Started with a Consultation

To learn more about liposuction, tummy tuck, and all your body contouring options, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Gregory Mackay, Dr. Bahair Ghazi, Dr. John Symbas, or Dr. Eugenia Page by calling (404) 255-2975 for our Northside office or (404) 343-0897 for our Piedmont West office.